A few doors away, a slightly built gentleman with a French accent, possibly wearing a goalie mask, was actually going as himself and not cinematic psycho killer Freddy Krueger.

Veteran goalie Jose Theodore and several Panthers teammates who participated in a self-run practice Wednesday morning at Glacier Ice and Snow Arena are upset at the owners for locking them out during acrimonious negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

However, they're trying to make the best of an exasperating situation.

"I will go trick-or-treating with my daughter, Romi [6], and she will be dressed as a homeless person,'' Theodore said, smiling. "I've been through [a lockout] before in 2004, so I know what to expect. I was in the cold weather of Montreal then, and now I'm here and am using it to make up spending time with my daughter, time that I missed over my career.

"It could change very quickly. We need more cooperation from the owners. We're willing to talk, but it seems like they don't want to dance right now.''

Theodore was being rushed by Jovanovski, who was in a hurry to get to the golf course, where they've been making up for their missed paychecks by relieving their teammates of some green on the greens.

With games through November already wiped out and the owners threatening to cancel the popular Jan. 1 Winter Classic outdoor game at Michigan Stadium on Thursday, Jovanovski's expression changed.

"Anytime you have extra time with family is good, but we're creatures of habit and are used to coming to the rink every day,'' said Jovanovski, 36. "To have it taken away from us is very frustrating, but I'm optimistic it will work out.''

Panthers forward Scottie Upshall, who lives in Newport Beach, Calif., isn't interested in any more down time.

"There's no real positives to things you're able to do during this lockout,'' said Upshall, fully recovered from abdomen surgery that reduced his first season with the Panthers to 26 games.

"At the end of the day we're not going to be in the same situation we were the last couple of years, but we've got to find common ground, a line of reality where they can't have us overcompensating that much.''

Upshall, who rejoined his teammates for the first time Wednesday, has no interest in playing overseas like several of his teammates (Tomas Kopecky, Jack Skille, Mike Santorelli and Marcel Goc). Neither do Stephen Weiss nor Tomas Fleischmann, both regulars at the Pompano rink.

The fear of injury is there, particularly since Panthers forward Sean Bergenheim played just two games for his hometown team in Finland before re-aggravating a groin injury.

"I enjoy the family time,'' defenseman Mike Weaver said. "But the NHL needs to realize how much this is hurting the game and the bad taste it's leaving in people's mouths. Out of sight, out of mind.''

The lockout won't stop Weaver from escorting his candy-seeking son, Owen, 4, who will be dressed as a policeman.

Weaver will, no doubt, go as a prisoner of billionaire owners holding the key to his future.